Amid conflict, Iran accuses US of discrimination in World Cup visas

Iran's men's football team celebrates qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after drawing with Uzbekistan in March last year
Getty Images via BBC
Ten days before the Iranian team's debut in the World Cup, the country's participation in the tournament is marked by diplomatic and military tensions. Although the Iranian players received visas to enter the United States, the government of Iran denounced, this Saturday (6), "discriminatory treatment" by Washington, which denied entry to several members of the team's technical committee and board of directors. level of intentional discrimination" against Iran.
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The statement was a response to the statement from the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, who announced that the players and the "necessary technical committee" had received visas to enter the United States.
The White House confirmed on Friday (5) that the athletes' visas had been granted. However, the Iranian embassy in Türkiye called the denial of visas to the rest of the delegation "the highest level of intentional discrimination" against the country.
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According to the Fars news agency, more than a dozen members of the medical and sports support teams had their requests rejected, as well as the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj.
The American restriction is due, in part, to connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the US would not allow entry to individuals linked to that branch of the Iranian military. Mehdi Taj, who is a former commander of the Guard, had already been barred from entering the US for the tournament draw in December.
Due to uncertainty over visas, Iran's national team moved its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The delegation should arrive in Mexican territory on Sunday (7), after passing through Spain.
For Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, the decision to compete "even in territory considered enemy" is a gesture that demonstrates the country's quest for peace.
This is the first time, since the creation of the World Cup in 1930, that a host country hosts a nation with which it is at war.
The military conflict between the two nations remains active; Just hours after confirming the reception of the players, the United States announced new air strikes against Iranian facilities, alleging threats to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, peace negotiations are slowly moving towards a provisional agreement.
Despite the off-field difficulties, the team's schedule in Group G remains maintained:
June 15: Debut against New Zealand, in Los Angeles.
June 21: Game against Belgium, also in Los Angeles.
June 27: Final group stage match against Egypt, in Seattle
*With information from Reuters and RFI.
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